The Cabbage Patch

I watched the Quins v Sarries game on telly yesterday.

Good game and I begrudgingly salute the Sarries

- but I'm more concerned about the state of the pitch. This has been an exceptionally dry spell in S.E. England for the past five-six months yet the pitch looked as though it was prepared for ploughing.

What's the problem with growing grass these days?

Portnoy wrote:What's the problem with growing grass these days?

The police have become more efficient ?

Lack of sunlight...!

Less than forty days to the 6Ns. Normally you'd expect lush, green turf at HQ.

But it looked like Skegness beach at low tide.

Isn't that how rugby pitches are supposed to look?

It's those SuperRugby "bowling green" surfaces that are all wrong

Two woids... Grow-Lamps. Big ones.

Some grounds just are not up to the level for First class rugby, And its an insult to the effort put in by the Coaches and players.
Everthing should be done to assist the players to perform at their ultimate level,and that includes the playing surface,if only for the good of the game.
Answer: employ some groundsmen that have had experience working on golf courses...

Croke Park must have the best Senior groundsman on the Planet. English guy. He always has it perfect for GAA, rugby and soccer. Protects it well for huge concerts as well. No matter what the weather or fixture list. Be worth a consult.

http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/croke-park-in-the-name-of-love.html

Gibbo, the GAA have spent an absolute fortune on Croke Park's surface. It is usually in top condition there were problems with fellas slipping last year but other than that it is the best pitch in Ireland.

I couldn't really judge the state of the pitch from around halfway, and 10 rows back (I could smell the grass though). But hang on a minute, we're playing rugby here, not friggin croquet. Did anyone slip as a result of this 'inferior' playing surface? Did it have a material affect on the game?

I didn't notice it if that was the case.

Hound_of_Harrow wrote:I couldn't really judge the state of the pitch from around halfway, and 10 rows back (I could smell the grass though). But hang on a minute, we're playing rugby here, not friggin croquet. Did anyone slip as a result of this 'inferior' playing surface? Did it have a material affect on the game?

I didn't notice it if that was the case.

He's right ya know... Rugby's for real men... Not croquet-playing ponces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqEx2d5wkPg

Gibbo - thanks for that. Real men indeed.

(Hope I've got the terminology correct here)

I'll see your "Rugby in the mud" and raise you THIS

Penfro - awesome!

Awesomererererererererer - CAN HE GET THERE ? IT WOULD BE A MIRACLE IF HE COULD

Gibson wrote:He's right ya know... Rugby's for real men... Not croquet-playing ponces
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqEx2d5wkPg

I would have payed a bucket full to be the ball in this match.

Good point Portnoy. Imagine if Saracens played their home games on the hard grounds their South African ( and Namibian) players are used too, theyd be even better.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Good point Portnoy. Imagine if Saracens played their home games on the hard grounds their South African ( and Namibian) players are used too, theyd be even better.

YYYAAAAAWWWWWNNNNN

Knackeredknees wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Good point Portnoy. Imagine if Saracens played their home games on the hard grounds their South African ( and Namibian) players are used too, theyd be even better.

YYYAAAAAWWWWWNNNNN

Sounds like youve been watching too many Saracens games

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

Knackeredknees wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Good point Portnoy. Imagine if Saracens played their home games on the hard grounds their South African ( and Namibian) players are used too, theyd be even better.

YYYAAAAAWWWWWNNNNN

Sounds like youve been watching too many Saracens games

Touche good sir

Of course read between the lines on my posts.

The fact is that HQ's pitch is a yellowing mould and either that is normal for this time of year or the pitch is going to cut up into mud if the rains do come or it will be scraped clear of any grass by April.

Well that's my fear. Twickenham is played on only a handful of times a year. I wonder how the groundsfolk at Old Trafford manage.

Portnoy wrote:Of course read between the lines on my posts.

The fact is that HQ's pitch is a yellowing mould and either that is normal for this time of year or the pitch is going to cut up into mud if the rains do come or it will be scraped clear of any grass by April.

Well that's my fear. Twickenham is played on only a handful of times a year. I wonder how the groundsfolk at Old Trafford manage.

They just pish Fergie off and he gives it the hair-drier treatment.

Happy New Year Portnoy me aul bud.

Portnoy wrote:Of course read between the lines on my posts.

The fact is that HQ's pitch is a yellowing mould and either that is normal for this time of year or the pitch is going to cut up into mud if the rains do come or it will be scraped clear of any grass by April.

Well that's my fear. Twickenham is played on only a handful of times a year. I wonder how the groundsfolk at Old Trafford manage.

I think they change/rotate the turf every six weeks or something.

Croke Park getting rested for most the winter helps when there is no growth.

Sin é wrote:

Portnoy wrote:Of course read between the lines on my posts.

The fact is that HQ's pitch is a yellowing mould and either that is normal for this time of year or the pitch is going to cut up into mud if the rains do come or it will be scraped clear of any grass by April.

Well that's my fear. Twickenham is played on only a handful of times a year. I wonder how the groundsfolk at Old Trafford manage.

I think they change/rotate the turf every six weeks or something.

Croke Park getting rested for most the winter helps when there is no growth.

Which orientation is the greenhouse end at Lansdowne?

The Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road) isn't a natural grass pitch.

red_stag wrote:The Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road) isn't a natural grass pitch.

What is it then Stag? Something that thirty years ago Gibbo or I would have smoked?

Which direction does the glass end face?

The whole thing is glass Portnoy. But there is one open end in the North side of stadium. It is just terrace, no stand.

The surface is one of those elastic new fangled next generation artificial pitch thingys.

Like this LIBERTY . Grass man, but like er, not as we know it man

red_stag wrote:The whole thing is glass Portnoy. But there is one open end in the North side of stadium. It is just terrace, no stand.

The surface is one of those elastic new fangled next generation artificial pitch thingys.

Crikey! I never knew that there was any major rugby pitch played on new-age Astroturf.

Now I come to think of it, I can't recall the New Jeff cutting up. But how are the enormous forces exerted in the scrum contained without the carpet fitters being called in after every game?

I'm astonished.

Are there any other major rugby venues played on artificial grass?

Here you go Portnoy:

https://stadium.aviva.ie/pages/news_at_glance

"The fibre elastic surface represents the latest generation of playing surfaces. As well as being more resilient than natural turf, it also provides increased traction and reduced hardness."

Portnoy wrote: Are there any other major rugby venues played on artificial grass?

Nah, just the Library

Seriously though Portnoy - read that link I posted. A very very very high level rugby tournament had some games (including those involving England) played on the same surface as that at the Liberty

PenfroPete wrote:Seriously though Portnoy - read that link I posted. A very very very high level rugby tournament had some games (including those involving England) played on the same surface as that at the Liberty

OK. Now I'm dangerously equipped with a little knowledge.

Liberty has a platic spiky plastic mat which allows grass to grow through.

Lansdowne has a carpet roll of plastic.

MS has turf carpet tiles.

Wembley gets re-seeded like the local bike.

And HQ's pitch is confidently laid on the secure foundation of Awingandaprayer.